Fated to Espresso

Chapter 2

I went on cleaning. Occasionally, I would look back at him, he still hadn't moved from his seat. He was looking out the window, but upon catching my eye, he smiled at me with a smile that simply made my heart pound even faster.

I tried to concentrate on cleaning the counter while I attempted to suppress the strange sensation that I felt.

"So, what led you to Willow Creek?"

"Are you passing through, or did somebody bring you here?" I asked, attempting to relax the situation.

"I'm staying a bit, actually," he replied matter-of-factly, speaking softly as if sharing a secret.

"My family recently purchased some property here."

I paused in the middle of wiping my hands, bewildered by his statement. "Wait, your family purchased land here? What business do they have?

He leaned in closer still, his voice going even lower. "We're… investors," he told me with a mischievous grin.

My heart missed a beat as he strolled up to the counter and leaned in even farther, the space between us almost gone. I could smell his aftershave, and everything seemed more real.

"You might say we have our hands on a lot of powerful pies," he replied, shrugging casually, as if it didn't matter at all.

I raised an eyebrow. "So, you're telling me you're an heir to an empire?"

He smiled, his voice sending a shiver through me. "Well, you could say that."

His words hung in the air, and I couldn't help but speculate what was truly happening behind that cocky exterior. I watched him walk out with his money at the counter, like nothing was wrong. Tch, so arrogant…

I shook my head and simply concentrated on my customers, which was almost evening.

As I walked out of the coffee shop and locked the door behind me, I glanced back at the window. The encounters of the afternoon that day still lingered in my thoughts. I couldn't help but remember the image of the enigmatic stranger who had entered my café and caused my heart to skip a beat. Ethan Blake. A man of secrets—or so I imagined. The chemistry between us was palpable, and I couldn't help but relive our short conversation in my mind over and over again.

But was it possible? Was he telling the truth? I shook my head, banishing the thought. No way. Guys like him didn't fit into places like Willow Creek. If he was really who he claimed to be, why would he end up here? He must have had some other reason for being here. After all, this was a town built on peace and quiet, where people came for long walks by the creek, not for fortune or fame.

"Good morning," I said to Lily, who had just arrived, clearly out of breath from running.

"You’re just in time," she replied, and I saw her sitting in the same spot outside. I opened the door for her, and we entered together.

"By the way, I had a customer yesterday." "He seemed like a newbie here, but I’m pretty sure he won’t be coming back," I said, focusing on making her matcha espresso. But when I looked up, I realized she was sitting in the same spot as the stranger from yesterday. I couldn’t help but remember how our fingers brushed together and how it made my heart race.

"Really?" "But why are you so affected?" Lily asked, crossing one leg over the other and giving me a teasing look.

"It’s not that. I just felt a bit strange because there haven’t been many notable visitors to the café lately. Plus, for a long time, we've had people who insulted our town, and…" I trailed off, but before I could finish, she suddenly cut in.

"So, you want to insult your own café?" she said sarcastically. I rolled my eyes while preparing her drink and then went back to the counter to start cleaning.

"No, no, that’s not my point… Ah, forget it," I muttered, realizing I was rambling. Lily smirked, so I just continued cleaning the counter.

"Okay, I’ve got to go. I have somewhere to be… Bye."

"Bye..." "Take care," I said.

But despite this, Ethan returned, smiling, though his presence carried a heavy aura. Despite his simple outfit, I could feel my heart racing. I accidentally dropped the tray with the hot cup I was holding, and it shattered on the floor, breaking the silence between us.

Due to my panic while trying to gather the broken pieces, I got wounded. I saw the blood on my index finger, and he suddenly grabbed my hand that was wounded and raised it, which made me stand up as well. I saw his face, now level with mine, looking concerned.

" What are you doing? Why did you touch your wounds? Are you okay? Do you need help? I can call my private doctor if you want" he asked, full of questions, his voice filled with genuine concern. I almost laughed at his overly formal reaction, but then I saw the worry in his eyes and the way he was desperately looking for where I had gotten hurt. I smiled back and stood up so we were eye to eye.

"I’m fine, really. It’s far from my vital organs. Don’t worry, it’s just a small cut. Oh, look at me! My index finger is okay now, so don’t stress yourself" I said, trying to reassure him, even though it felt awkward.

"Are you sure?" he asked again, still not fully convinced, while my wrist was still in his hand.

"I’m fine," I repeated, nodding as I gave him a small awkward smile.

"You don’t look convinced. "Where’s your first aid kit?" he said, his eyes scanning the café as he walked toward the corner where I kept the supplies. I was left stunned as he gently took my hand, helping me out of the counter area and guiding me to the same spot where he had sat the previous day. He sat me down and fetched the first aid kit, carefully cleaning the cut with cotton balls and applying iodine.

"Attention, everyone!" I saw him clap to get the attention of everybody in the café.

"Please be careful when stepping near the broken glass. "Again, I want your ears and cooperation not to step in that area for your safety and for everybody’s safety," he clarified while gesturing with his hand. I just watched him, feeling a strange flutter in my chest. Thankfully, there were no other customers, so I had time to observe him. A small smile tugged at my lips as I marveled at how he handled me with such care. I had to admit, he wasn’t just a mysterious stranger anymore. He was someone I found myself thinking about more than I should.

As he placed a band-aid on the cut, he looked up at me and smiled, and I couldn’t help but feel my cheeks flush.

"Cute," he said, and I froze. My face turned bright red, and I tried to cover my embarrassment by quickly getting up and putting the first aid kit back. But I heard his teasing voice again.

"Cute," he repeated, making me blush even harder.

"Ah, yes, another cappuccino, please." "Just like the one you made for me yesterday," he said, already sitting down again.

Wow, he was fast. I barely had time to process everything. I quickly made my way back to the counter, trying to focus on preparing the cappuccino.

"Here’s your cappuccino, sir," I said, carefully placing the steaming cup on the table, making sure our hands didn’t touch. I didn’t want to risk it.

I walked back to the counter, trying to focus on the growing number of customers. Throughout the morning, I couldn’t help but notice how Ethan would always sit in the same spot, right by the window, watching me with that same smile. It became almost like a routine, and it was impossible not to notice how it made my heart flutter every time.

I tried to laugh off the teasing comments and quick banter in my head, but deep down, I knew I was already falling for him. But there was a part of me that resisted. I couldn’t let myself get caught up in the idea that this mysterious man, this customer, was someone I could get attached to.

"Here's my payment, miss," Ethan said, catching me off guard. I stood up to catch his eye, and my heart skipped a beat as I caught him smiling once more. It becomes him. It's preferable that he smiles all the time, especially her dimple that appears, but why does this feeling always appear when I am around him? Hayss, please heart. I need your cooperation. Do not let it show.